The United States on Saturday called for China to lower tensions in the South China Sea through dialogue as the Pacific powers held first-of-a-kind talks on friction in Southeast Asia.

Senior US official Kurt Campbell said he assured China during the talks in Hawaii that the United States welcomed a strong role for Beijing, which has warned Washington against involvement in the intensifying disputes.

"We had a candid and clear discussion about these issues," Campbell, the assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters after the session in Honolulu.

"We want tensions to subside. We have a strong interest in the maintenance in peace and stability, and we are seeking a dialogue among all of the key players," he said.

Incidents in recent weeks have heightened tension on the South China Sea, a strategic and potentially oil-rich area where China has sometimes overlapping disputes with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Vietnam carried out live-fire drills and the Philippines ordered the deployment of its naval flagship after accusing China of aggressive actions.

While the United States and China often talk, Saturday's session was the first to focus specifically on the Asia-Pacific region. The dialogue was set up during the top-level Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington in May.

Campbell said that the United States and China would hold another round of the dialogue in China at a time to be determined.

"We had a useful and productive exchange of views," Campbell said. "I thought the overall tone and content was constructive."

The United States and China conducted "open, frank and constructive discussions with the goal of obtaining a better understanding of each other's intentions, policies and actions toward the Asia Pacific region," he said.

Campbell said that the United States highlighted during the talks in the Pacific state that it is an Asia-Pacific country with an interest in the region's peace, stability and prosperity.

He said that the United States explained that it is trying to build new partnerships in the area and that it supports a strong China.

President Barack Obama's administration has focused on building ties with Southeast Asia, accusing the previous team of George W. Bush of neglecting the fast-growing and often US-friendly region due to preoccupation with wars.

The United States has rallied behind Southeast Asian nations amid the high tension on the South China Sea.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged Thursday to help the Philippines -- a treaty ally of the United States -- to modernize its navy. The archipelago's flagship warship is an aging vessel used by the United States in World War II.

The United States and Vietnam have also been stepping up cooperation, with the former war foes issuing a joint call during recent talks in Washington for a peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.

The United States plans joint exercises with the Philippines and a naval exchange with Vietnam in coming weeks, although US officials have characterized the activities as routine.

China has insisted that it wants a peaceful resolution of conflicts and has voiced alarm at what some Chinese policymakers consider an effort to hold back the rising power.

China's top official at the Hawaii talks, vice foreign minister Cui Tiankai, warned ahead of the session that US support of its partners "can only make things more complicated."

"I believe some countries now are playing with fire. And I hope the US won't be burned by this fire," Cui said, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal.

Cui said that the United States should limit itself to urging "more restraint and responsible behavior from those countries that have been frequently taking provocative actions."

Campbell said that the United States also told China that its rapidly growing military spending has raised concern in the region and that "greater transparency and more dialogue will help ease those concerns."

earlier related report
China, Vietnam vow to cool S. China Sea tensions
Beijing (AFP) June 26, 2011 - China and Vietnam pledged to resolve a row over the strategic South China Sea, state media said Sunday, in a bid to ease tensions that prompted accusations of Chinese bullying in the region.

The apparent olive branch between the testy neighbours came as the United States and Philippines readied for joint naval exercises in the face of Chinese actions and after the US called for Beijing to help lower the temperature.

Several recent incidents have put the security spotlight on the South China Sea, a strategic and potentially oil-rich area where China has sometimes overlapping disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Recently, Vietnam carried out live-fire drills and the Philippines ordered the deployment of its naval flagship after accusing China of aggressive actions.

Representatives of China and Vietnam met in Beijing for weekend talks and agreed to resolve their maritime territorial disputes "peacefully", China's Xinhua news agency said Sunday.

They pledged to reach a "peaceful resolution of the maritime dispute between the two countries through negotiations and friendly consultations," it said.

The joint vow was made in a meeting Saturday between Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo, China's senior foreign-policy official, and Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son.

They agreed to take measures to "safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea", work toward an agreement on addressing maritime disputes and seek speedy implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The latter is a pact signed in 2002 between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to prevent conflict until the myriad territorial disputes are resolved.

However, the report gave no details on specific steps to be taken or a timetable.

The United States on Saturday called for China to lower tensions through dialogue as they held talks on frictions in Southeast Asia.

Senior US official Kurt Campbell said he assured China during the talks in Hawaii that the United States welcomed a strong role for Beijing, which has warned Washington against involvement in the intensifying disputes.

"We want tensions to subside. We have a strong interest in the maintenance in peace and stability, and we are seeking a dialogue among all of the key players," said Campbell, assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific affairs.

China has in the past rejected calls for multi-lateral talks on the South China Sea disputes, insisting on one-on-one contacts with other claimants.

Vietnam has accused Chinese ships of recently ramming an oil survey ship and cutting the exploration cables of another.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Benigno Aquino this month accused China of inciting at least seven incidents recently, including one in which a Chinese vessel allegedly opened fire on Filipino fishermen.

As tension climbed, China staged its own three days of naval exercises in the South China Sea.

The United States has stepped into the fray, pledging to support the defence of its longtime ally the Philippines and help modernise its cash-strapped military.

"We are determined and committed to supporting the defence of the Philippines," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week.

The two countries will hold 11 days of naval exercises starting Tuesday off the southwestern Philippines in a show of unity.

Vietnam and the United States also are to hold joint naval activities next month but they were long-planned and are unconnected to the recent tensions, the US Navy has said.

The South China Sea has long been considered one of Asia's potential military flashpoints due to the overlapping claims.

That fear has risen as China has worked to upgrade its military in recent years and made more strident declarations of its claims.

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